UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

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FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2017, file photo, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen looks to pass against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have become friends while growing into top NFL quarterback prospects with crosstown rivals Southern California and UCLA. They'll meet on the field for the first time Saturday - and it will probably be the last time until they get together again on Sundays.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) less

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2017, file photo, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen looks to pass against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen ... more

Photo: Chris Carlson, Associated Press

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PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins tosses the ball after scoring a touchdown on a short run during the first half of a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) less

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins tosses the ball after scoring a touchdown on a short run during the first half of a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl on ... more

Photo: Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images

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Everybody loves Josh Rosen; Cal has to stop UCLA QB

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Football coaches and players don’t typically go out of their way to praise opponents — or even call them by name.

But No. 3 at UCLA isn’t your typical player.

Josh Rosen is among the the best college quarterbacks in the country and possesses a skill set so eye-popping that opponents have been unequivocal in praising the NFL’s potential No. 1 overall pick all season.

“That guy, he throws the football as well as any college quarterback I’ve ever competed against or coached against,” said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, whose team will have to try to find a way to slow the prolific passer Friday in Pasadena. “If he knows where he’s going, and you’re not putting any pressure on him, he can throw it as well as anybody. … He’s just a unique guy in terms of how he can throw the football.”

Cal (5-6) goes into its regular-season finale needing a win to make itself bowl eligible. The Bears are 1-4 on the road and are 10th in the Pac-12 in passing defense, allowing 254.3 yards per game.

The Bears will mix and match coverages, so Rosen doesn’t see the same picture on each play. They’ll send different numbers of rushers and from different positions, in hopes of creating indecision in the 6-foot-4 junior.

Seemingly no plan has worked this season against Rosen, whose 351.5 passing yards per game rank second in the nation behind Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph (374.1). Rosen has a 144.0 passer rating, having completed 62.1 percent of his passes and having thrown 24 for touchdowns.

He’s coming off a 421-yard, three-touchdown performance against USC, extending his school records for 300- and 350-yard games to 17 and 11.

This month, head coach Jim Mora — fired Sunday by UCLA after its loss to USC — touted Rosen’s growth since arriving on campus and starting as a 17-year-old.

“Through the past couple of years, he’s just progressed so much on the field as a player and around our team as a leader,” Mora said. “That’s demonstrated in what he says, how he conducts his business, his attitude in meetings, his work ethic in practice, his accountability to his teammates and his willingness to step up after a tough loss and accept responsibility. He’s just doing everything the right way. Everything.…

“Guys like Josh are special. They don’t come around very often.”

The rest of Pac-12 recognizes it. Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre joked that the only way to slow Rosen was to have him twist his ankle in pregame warm-ups.

“There’s no mistaking it: Josh Rosen has proven that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the nation,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said. “He’s outstanding. He can make throws that other guys can’t make, and he’s been able to will them down the field.”

Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez, who has faced Rosen three times, said, “He seems to get bigger and stronger every year. He was phenomenal as a freshman, and he’s an even better player now. There’s nothing he doesn’t do well. … I’m glad he’s eligible for the draft after this. He needs to go now.”

Says USC head coach Clay Helton, who has known Rosen since he played on a youth team with Helton’s son: “Being a quarterback coach by trade, it’s been very unique to be able to watch him grow up and become such a special player. … It’s neat to be able to watch guys playing at the highest level, and Josh is doing that.”